< I thought this was Strawberry's redesign?

You mean they went back to the drawing board again? What's the matter, Mattel... not "girlie" enough?

If Dora and Strawberry Shortcake were being sexualized, they would have humongous boobs, short shorts, and tight t-shirts.

I agree. I mean Dora is supposed to be Mexican right? Wouldn't a sexed up version have wide hips, a big butt and a low cut blouse revealing the cleavage of her young bosom?

Strawberry Shortcake... I actually like her new design and it's not sexed up.

Ugly. Also, too old.

Just kidding.

I'm more surprised by the fact that we have an animated character (Dora) that seems to be aging in real time. o.o

Soon to be renamed into The Dora Show?

Not sexualized, modernized.

This is just a product of the world we live in right now. Especially America which seems to morally think sex is the enemy of society (particularly our children) and yet thanks to it's selling power it is infused into almost every pore of the universe, both detected and undetected.

There's a reason why so many people grow up confused, and I'd say it's more the mixed signals than the over emphasis on marketting.

In this case, I'd say that it's a knee jerk reaction. It's a rare thing to find genuinely unoffensive programming for the youngins and the mere idea of a tween Dora would cause people to assume they are selling tweenage stuff to pre-schoolers, without really doing the research.

But, regarding the Shortcake. She looks like a tame version of a Bratz cartoon and Bratz are whores. I can see both the innocence and the sexualized nature there. Wether it's intentional or not, it's possible to connect the dots, and in this world connecting the dots is all it takes for offence.

But, just because� I'm feeling devil's advocatey, enjoy some truly sexualized goth Shortcake.

�
Gothberry Shortcake by ~zaionczyk on deviantART

I'm more surprised by the fact that we have an animated character (Dora) that seems to be aging in real time. o.o

Soon to be renamed into The Dora Show?

Last I check, Dora's new tween age is merely to sell dolls of the same caliber. No mention of any new Dora show...yet. God only knows business might actually do it if the dolls sell well (even though I find it unnecessary, but hey, I don't carry a business mind). Either way, neither the new Dora or Strawberry Shortcakes look any sexual as they did in the past. If anything, the new design of SS is actually adorable while Tween Dora has purdy, purdy eyes. It's just another example of people making a mountain out of a molehill.

Just don't show this to Bleedman. He'll draw them with much glee.

To be more fair to those who were complaining about Dora, they did so about a silhouette, and I can see why they got the idea from silhouette.

But, regarding the Shortcake. She looks like a tame version of a Bratz cartoon and Bratz are whores. I can see both the innocence and the sexualized nature there. Wether it's intentional or not, it's possible to connect the dots, and in this world connecting the dots is all it takes for offence.

I agree with you there - I even wonder if this has anything to do with the Bratz franchise being ordered to cease production and a gap opening up in the market.

But whilst I'll argue that yes, it's partially sexualised in what it highlights (even if it's covered up), I still think that without the context of the Bratz franchise to put it against, that wouldn't be quite such an issue.

Ugh. thats Strawberry' redesign? Its ugly. The one before was ugly too but this one is just oozing with what I hate. Teenybopper bull****

My God they better stay away from Rainbow Brite. Her skirt was already short. Dora's redesign on the other hand I find cute. Though not very "explorer-ish" They'll probably run her personality into the mud and make her into a Bratz doll like character.

Run Dora's personality into the mud? XD
Isn't she the one with the huge, lifeless eyes that does nothing but teach children how to count to eight and say scissors in Spanish, or something??

Don't forget that she ALWAYS TALKS LIKE THIS!!!!!!

But, regarding the Shortcake. She looks like a tame version of a Bratz cartoon and Bratz are whores. I can see both the
innocence and the sexualized nature there. Wether it's intentional or not, it's possible to connect the dots, and in this world connecting the dots
is all it takes for offence.

I agree with you there - I even wonder if this has anything to do with the Bratz franchise being ordered to cease production and a gap opening up
in the market.

But whilst I'll argue that yes, it's partially sexualised in what it highlights (even if it's covered up), I still think that without the context
of the Bratz franchise to put it against, that wouldn't be quite such an issue.

Wha? I don't get it. What does it have to do with Bratz?

Also, it is impossible to create a female character that won't be taken by somebody as a stereotype, exaggerated empowerment, sexualization, or combination of those.

Ok soooo younger Dora didn't have much of a personality.....All I can do is wait and see...But why the heck am I so interested? o_O

Vec, as far as I'm aware, Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley are the only two characters in major pop culture who can say they are truly above all of those titles and that is due to them being truthfully strong people with good motivation and natural interaction with their supporting cast which rarely if ever emphasises the fact that they are women as if it were either a limitation or source of pride.

That said, in both Aliens and T2 their primary role is motherly protector. I'd say Weaver and Hamilton were able to take the concepts and make them so solid that they would be respected as amazing characters for all of time.

Also, the art style is quite similar. I'm not saying that they are identical or side-by-side copy and paste, but give that shortcake some lashes and fat lips and they'd be hard to pick apart. My post references how barely tangible the comparison can be, but it can be made and that's enough to knee jerk.

I'm just going to post in this thread to say that Frued did it. That is all.

*Promptly leaves*